Johra Kaleki suffers legal setback

Johra Kaleki, the Afghan immigrant currently on trial for an attack on her teenage daughter in June 2010 at their home in Dorval, suffered a legal setback last week.

A judge has ruled that some of the statements she made shortly after her arrest can be used against her — statements like "This is my daughter, I can do whatever I want" and "I will kill her, I want to finish her."

Kaleki arrived in Canada with her family from Afghanistan in 1997. Prosecutors say the meat cleaver attack on her daughter was done in a fit of rage because she had stayed out all night and supposedly dishonored her Afghan family.

During the trial, the defense has sought to exclude her statements, claiming that Kaleki lacked the ability to speak English. During her testimony, Kaleki stated that her English was "limited" and that at the time she had difficulty understanding the language.

Judge Yves Paradis, however expressed reservations.

"Ms. Kaleki chose to speak English to express what she meant," noted the judge.

Paradis ultimately concluded that the accused's statements were made freely and voluntarily.

We've been hearing about sex assaults in Montreal cabs since last fall, now we're finding out that the Taxi Bureau may make panic buttons mandatory in the back of cabs to improve passenger safety.
Read More